Automatic guard for elevators



(No Model.)

R. P. RANKIN.

AUTOMATIC GUARD FORELEVATORS.

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Patented Noml i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT P. RANKIN, OF CLAYTON, INDIANA.

AUTOMATIC GUARD Foa ELEvAToRs.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 267,757, dated November 21, 1882.

Application filed March 14, 18S-2. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT P. RANKIN, of the town of Clayton, county ofHendricks, and State ot' Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Guards for Elevators,of which the following is a speciiication.

The object of my said invention is to produce a guard-rail for elevators which shall be automatically operated by the elevator itself as it passes up and down,- This object is accomplished by forming in the sides of the elevator-platform curved slots which will en gage with and operate projecting pins or arms on the inside of the hatehway, these pins being attached to and operating rising and falling arms, which in turn operate the verticallymovable guardrails, and suitable catching and disen gagin g devices whereby the parts are held in position or disengaged therefrom, as will be hereinafter morev particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Fi gurel is aperspective view of so muchl of an elevator and its surroundings as is necessary to illustrate my said invention; Fig.2, a plan of the open hatchway and surrounding guardrails; Fig. 3, a vertical section through the center of the hatchway and elevator; Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 3, except that the elevatorplati'orm islevel with the top of the oor surrounding the hatchway and the guard-rails depressed 5 Fig. 5, a horizontal section of one and a part of two other sides of the hatchway on the dotted line a z, Fig. 6; Fig. 6, a side elevation of one of the guard'- rails and connected mechanism as seen from inside of the hatchway, the piece of timber forming the hatchway-liningbeing removed; and Fig. 7, an under side plan of the parts shown in Fig. 6, except that the hatchway-lining is replaced.

In said drawings, the portionsmarkedA represent theframe-work surrounding the hatchwayg'B, the guardrails; O, the arms which operate the guard-rails; D,the arms which operate the arms C; E, projecting lugs or crossbars on the lower ends of the arms D; F, springs which catchv and hold said cross-bars in position; G, push-pins by which the engagement of said springs is released, and H the elevator-platform.

The frame-work A is similar to any ordinary frame-work surrounding the hatchway of an elevator, except that just outside its inner face is a narrow slot, in which the guard-rails and the arms which operate them are situated.

The guard-rails B are preferably rods of iron or gas-pipe extending across the width of the hatehway and turned down at each end at right angles with its main portion, said ends extending down through the iioor or framework, in which are eyes or other suitable bearings for their reception.

The arms O are pivoted to the frame-work at their lower ends by the pivots c, and are provided at their upper ends with eyes c', which surround the main portion of the guard-rails. 'When these arms are forced up by the action of the othermechanism they carry the guard-` rails with them.

The arms D are pivoted to the arms C by the pivots d, and are provided at their lower ends with cross-hars E, which restin slots a in the frame-work. As said cross-bars are forced back and forth by the action of the passing elevator the other ends of these arms, and with them the arms C and the guard-rails, are forced up and down.

The springs F are preferably1 fiat springs,

secured to the frame-work at one end and provided with a hook 0r catch upon the other., adapted to catch over the end of the crossbars E and hold the arms D forward, and thus hold the arms O and guard-rails Bin elevated position when said cross-bars are forced to a position where such engagement can be made.

The push-pins G move laterally in proper bearings in the frame-work, and are adapted, when pushed upon by the passing elevatorplatform or other means, to push upon the springs F and force them -baclr un til the catches thereon become disengaged from` the crossbars E, thus enabling said cross-hars to recede and permit the arms and guard-rails to drop intotheir recesses in the licor or framework.

The platform H has in its sides curved or cam-like grooves h, which, as said platform passes through the hatchway, engage with the cross-bars E and force them back and forth, with the result hereinbefore specified. It also IOO comes in contact with the push-pins G, forcing Having thus fully described my said inven- 3o them and the springs F back, so that the catches on the latter Will be disengaged from l the cross-bars E and the latter left free to be vIo moved back and forth in the slots a.

The operation of my said invention may be recapitulated as follows: The elevator-platform, in passing through the hatchway, first strikes the push-pin, G, forcing them and the springs F backuntil the-cross-bars E are disengaged. The slots 7L then commence to operate upon said cross-bars, and through the arms D and G upon the guard-rails, gradually lowering the latter until, when the ends of the cross-bars have reached the center of the slots vIL and the top of the elevator-platform is level with theiloor, said guard-rails are also level with the floor. When the elevator is again put in motion lthe slots h operate to force the cross-bars E and the arms D and C in the reverse direction to that just described, forcing up the guard-rails to the position shown in Figs. l and 3, and just as it leaves the hatchway releases its pressure upon the push-pins G, enabling the springs F to spring forward and thecatches on the ends of the same to catch and hold the cross-rods E, thus securing all the parts against'retrogression until again forced down by another passage of the elevator.

curved slots h, substantially as described, and

for the purposes specified.

3. 'lhe combination, with guard-rail mechanism for an elevator, of springs F, push-pins G, and the elevator-platform, adapted to operate said push-pins and force a disengagement between catches on said springs and said guardrail mechanism, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal, at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 10th day of March, A. D. 1882.

ROBERT P. RANKIN. In presence-of- G. BRADFORD, UHAs. L. THURBER. 

